Well Luck Co., Inc., a Jersey City, N.J., establishment, is recalling approximately 50,000 pounds of instant noodle products that were ineligible for import to the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Well Luck Co., Inc., is recalling the instant noodle products because they do not meet product inspection or exemption requirements for... [more]

Two companies, Ecolab and AvidBiotics, are cooperating to develop new food safety techniques associated with preventing foodborne illness bacteria in red meat. The companies are currently working specifically with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. E. coli bacteria is a foodborne illness which can cause diarrhea, nausea, and other food poisoning symptoms. E. coli prevention is especially important as it can... [more]

Yesterday, CBS News broke the story that a lab has confirmed the Salmonella Montevideo multi-state outbreak was linked to the Daniele International, Inc. recall of sausage products. The Food Safety Inspection Service posted the company’s voluntary recall on January 23, 2010 because of possible contamination by Salmonella. According to the article:   A strain of Salmonella has been linked to an outbreak... [more]

Farmer’s Weekly Interactive, a British magazine devoted to the agribusiness industry, issued a report yesterday regarding new advancements in detection of possible foodborne illnesses in both pigs and poultry. According to the article, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a research method which takes DNA or RNA and multiplies it rapidly so that the organism can be identified. This process can be used... [more]

Since 2007, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture has been working in conjunction with the USDA on implementation of a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) pilot program. According to the department’s website, this research project, aimed at developing practical food tracking methods, links the Hawaii Department of Agriculture with local farmers. The farmers place RFID tags in containers of food products. The... [more]

On January 22, 2010, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that it was looking into a Salmonella outbreak that has spread to 38 states. According to the news update entitled Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo, Salmonella serotype Montevideo has infected 184 people.  No one has ever died from the food poisoning; however, several individuals have been admitted to hospitals.... [more]

According to the CDC, Cyclospora is a parasite that can cause foodborne illness in individuals who consume contaminated food or water. Derived from infected fecal matter, individuals who consume contaminated food or water will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, as well as symptoms similar to that of the flu. This condition is known as Cyclosporiasis.  The incubation period for Cyclospora... [more]

Louisiana politicians and oyster industry lobbyists converged on Capital Hill this week. The Louisiana oyster industry is battling a potential FDA regulation that would impact oyster production. In November 2009, Louisiana lawmakers successfully petitioned for a postponement of these bans. Check out one of my earlier blogs on this subject. The FDA is concerned with a possible bacterial infection known... [more]

Yesterday, Daniele Inc. of Rhode Island announced the recall of  1.24 million pounds of peppered salami and other meat products after Oregon officials linked Daniele’s products with an outbreak of Salmonella montevideo. In addition to diarrhea and vomiting, Salmonella food poisoning, known as Salmonellosis, can cause fever, nausea, and can be potentially fatal if a person’s immune system... [more]

Park 100 Foods, Inc., a Kokomo, Ind., establishment, is recalling approximately 19,200 pounds of frozen chicken pot pie products that may contain foreign materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. The following product is subject to recall: 2.5-pound cartons of “Market Day®, CHICKEN POT PIE, Made With All White Chicken Meat.” Each... [more]